ARMENIAN FAMOUS BOXER KAMO SAROYAN PASSES AWAY
Noyan Tapan
Sept 06 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian famous boxer, USSR multiple
champion and prize winner, sports master of international class Kamo
Saroyan passed away on September 4, at the age of 61, after a long
serious disease. He performed at the heavyweight weight category. The
farewell ceremony takes place at 12:00-14:00, September 6, in the
“Dinamo” gym of Yerevan.

RAFFI HOVHANNISIAN: CRIMINOGENIC SITUATION OF ARMENIA REFLECTS SICKNESS OF SOCIETY AND STATE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 06 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The criminogenic
situation of Armenia, scandalous murders reflect the sickness of the
society and the state. Raffi Hovannisian, member of the Zharangutiun
(Heritage) Party Board, former RA Foreign Minister, expressed such
an opinion at the September 6 meeting at the Pastark club. “We can
for weeks, for months, from one press conference to another speak
about phenomena, about changing the system, about the national
transformation, argue, what is right, evolution or revolution, but
as far as responsibility is not concrete, as far as the law is not
used equally, from the current President to the last citizen, as
far as there is an army of privileged persons and these persons are
connected with this regime, as far the force, arms and land belong
to the same circle, when they exercise right and law on the basis of
the unity of this force and money, it will go on like this, but this
is not natural,” the speaker declared. In his opinion, this does not
correspond to the values adopted by the Armenian people and its rich
civilization heritage and on the threshold of the 15th anniversary of
RA sovereignty it brings to light the huge work the current generation
should do for completely returning Armenia to the legal field. Two
hours before the press conference Shahen Hovasapian, Chief of the
Investigation Department of RA Tax Service, was killed in Yerevan,
near his house.

RA PRESIDENT GIVES MKHITAR GOSH MEDAL TO JOHN EVANS AT FAREWELL MEETING WITH HIM
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 06 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On September 6,
RA President Robert Kocharian had a farewell meeting with Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of U.S. to Armenia John Evans who
completes his two-year diplomatic mission in Armenia. John Evans
was awarded Mkhitar Gosh medal for his considerable contribution to
strengthening and development of Armenian-American friendly relations
under the September 5 decree of the Armenian President. Giving the
award, Robert Kocharian expressed gratitude to the Ambassador for
efficient cooperation and said that a serious progress was registered
in Armenian-American relations during the two years of his tenure. In
the President’s words, the cooperation circle was considerably
extended involving new directions and registering significant
results. Expressing confidence that Armenian-American relations will
continue with the same efficiency, Robert Kocharian wished John Evans
success in his future activity. John Evans also expressed satisfaction
with his two-year activity and said that he considers estimation to his
and embassy’s activity as Armenia’s highest award. Attaching importance
to joint programs implemented in various spheres, he considered the
Millennium Challenge program, as a program opening serious prospects
for country’s development, one of the most essential achievements of
Armenian-American cooperation. As NT was informed from RA President’s
Press Office, at the meeting the sides also touched upon the Nagorno
Karabakh settlement, regional developments and security issues.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT BOARD MEMBER BLAMES “TWO PERSONS FROM KARABAKH BY ORIGIN” FOR “SAD SITUATION” FORMED IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Sept 06 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian National Movement is
the only political force speaking about compromise, quick variant of
Nagorno Karabakh settlement, Armenian National Movement (ANM) Board
member Aram Manukian declared at the September 6 dispute at the Hayeli
(Mirror) club. He also said that ANM today also has its place in the
Armenian political arena though it is not popular. The party has 6
thousand members, whose force, in Manukian’s words, “is in belief in
their own ideology.” In connection with the country’s home political
developments A.Manukian criticized a number of Armenian parties.
“I regret to say that parties feeding the people prosper,” he
mentioned, to all appearances, hinting at the People’s Party that
organizes free travels to Sevan for people of different regions. All
current political parties, as Manukian affirmed, are created either
around individuals or by their order. In response to a journalist’s
question, whether the Republican Party will not be insulted by his
words, the speaker said: “It is not important, let them be insulted. A
number of serious milksops have gathered in this party, whose dinity
does not let them keep high the honor of their party. And I want
this party’s honor to be high, as there are my friends that fought
for Karabakh in this party.” Aram Manukian also regretted to say that
“70, 80-year-old intellectuals by groups join some party and express
a party position at this age.” In Manukian’s words, “two persons from
Karabakh by origin are to blame for this sad situation.”

ALVARD PETROSIAN: DASHNAKTSUTIUN ITSELF ELECTED KOCHARIAN BUT IT IS NOT ELECTED BY KOCHARIAN
Noyan Tapan
Sept 06 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Parties having an ideology always
have their place, their stable members, while many parties today
representing themselves with a huge number of members become very small
in two days, “in case of not being attached to the power.” Writer
and publicist Alvard Petrosian, member of RA National Assembly ARF
Dashnaktsutiun faction, expressed such an opinion at the September
6 dispute. In her opinion, Dashnaktsutiun has a stable quality and
creates some political culture, but “no power likes Dashnaktsutiun
very much.” A.Petrosian said that the Armenian National Movement (ANM)
for no reason at all speculates the fact of Armenia’s independence
considering achievement of independence its monopoly. “I would like
them to also think favorably about Dashnaktsutiun that created the
First Republic, when touching upon the history,” he said. In the
speaker’s words, not only ANM, but also all reasonable forces expect
quick solution to the Nagorno Karabakh problem. As Alvard Petrosian
affirmed, violence committed towards Dashnaktsutiun under ANM does not
differ at all from Stalin dictatorship: a number of politicians were
imprisoned in the 1990-s, 20 newspapers were closed. And today also,
in his words, when the authorities have changed, ARF is not elected
by President Robert Kocharian, while it elected Kocharian.

129 CANDIDATURES ARE NOMINATED AT ELECTIONS OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT BODIES IN AKHALKALAK AND NINOTSMINDA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 06 2006
AKHALKALAK, SEPTEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The
registration of candidatures nominated at elections of local
self-government bodies finished at 18:00 by Georgian time, on September
5. Maksim Mahtesian, the chairman of No40 district electoral commission
of the region of Akhalkalak informed the Javakhk-Info agency that
80 candidates will struggle for 22 deputy mandates of the electoral
district. In words of Seyran Kyureghian, the Chairman of No41 district
electoral commission of the region of Ninotsminda, 49 candidates will
struggle for 10 deputy mandates of the electoral district.

EXHIBITION OF SCULPTURES AND PAINTINGS IN SOCHI IS DEDICATED TO YEAR OF ARMENIA IN RUSSIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 06 2006
SOCHI, SEPTEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A vernissage of two
artists, painter from Armenia Khachik Abrahamian and sculptor from
Sochi Hakob Khalafian, opened in the Art Museum in Sochi. According
to the “Yerkramas” (country) newspaper of Armenian of Russia, the
exhibition is timed for the Year of Armenia in Russia. Resident of
Sochi Hakob Khalafian, an admirer of the world of animals, sculptured
in the form of a square cat even his self-portrait.
And Khachik Abrahamian from Yerevan, with whole generosity of an
Armenian, brings down a stream of bright colours on judge of art. His
works are poetic, like the theater, where wonderful strange ladies
live according to their laws.
Abrahamian’s and Khalafian’s joint work is called in no other way but a
game as a result of what amusing and wonderful characters are created.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA APPRECIATES PROCESS OF REFORMS BEING IMPLEMENTED IN ARAGATSOTN MARZ
Noyan Tapan
Sept 06 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Robert Kocharian
attaches serious importance to development of reprocessing production
in the marz of Aragatsotn, in encouraging of which, in his words,
the local authorities have much to do. The country head stated about
it at the meeting with journalists after the working visit paid
to the marz of Aragatsotn on September 5. As a succeeded example,
the President mentioned one of the “Tamara-Fruit” factory, which,
according to his estimation, has great perspectives. The factory makes
an attempt to occupy a place in the European market, by cooperating
with the European Bank. The President expressed satisfaction with
the high speeds of school construction in the marz: “Other 2-3 years,
and the promise that there will be no unrestored school in Armenia,
will become a reality,” the President mentioned. In his words, a
great volume of gasification works is also done in the marz. The
President emphasized that only some villages had gasification
in the territory of the marz during the Soviet period, when 29
rural communities have gasification at present, and it’s envisaged
that other 15-20 communities will have gasification till late this
year. According to the President’s estimation, the state of highways
is not bad in the marz, and as for improvement of the irrigation
system, it’s envisaged to improve the irrigation system particularly
by the program of reconstruction of reservoirs and construction of
water-pipes. The IPAC and World Bank allocated capital investment of
4.5 bln drams for this purpose. During the visit paid to Aragatsotn,
the RA President visited the newly restored school of the village of
Aragats, Saghmosavank and “Tamara-Fruit” factory. The President held
a consultation at the Regional Governor’s Office on the same day.

SHAHEN HOVASAPIAN RESIGNED POST OF CHAIRMAN OF WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATION OF ARMENIA 6 MONTHS AGO
Noyan Tapan
Sept 06 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. According to Noyan Tapan data,
Shahen Hovasapian, the Chief of the Investigation Department of the RA
State Tax Service attached to Government, who died in the consequence
of an explosion blown up because of an explosive placed in his office
car on September 6, was born in a weightlifter’s family, he and his
brothers also went in for weightlifting. Sh.Hovasapian headed the
Weightlifting Federation of Armenia from 2004 to March, 2006. During
that period of time Sh.Hovasapian greatly assisted sportsmen in the
issue of competition missions, organization of teaching and training
gatherings, providing weightlifters with modern sports goods and
equipment.
Sh.Hovasapian resigned the post of the Federation Chairman in March,
2006, because of being overworked.

DAYS OF YEREVAN TO BE HELD IN MOSCOW ON SEPTEMBER 9-11
Noyan Tapan
Sept 06 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Days of Yerevan will be held in
Moscow on September 9-11, within the franework of the Year of Armenia
in Russia. The event was organized on the initiative of the Embassy of
Armenia to the RA, the Yerevan and Moscow Mayor’s Offices. As David
Gevorgian, the Chief of the Foreign Ties Department of the Yerevan
Mayor’s Office informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent, the “Golden
Pomegranate” festival will open on September 9, within the framework
of which Armenian goods, hand-made works as well as fruits will be
exhibited. Within the framework of the Days of Yerevan, the “Armenian
Navy Band” vanguard-folk jazz group headed by Arto Tuncboyaciyan will
have concerts in Moscow. The official meeting of Yerevan and Moscow
Mayors Yervand Zakharian and Yuri Luzhkov will take place on September
11. The “Old City with Contemporaries’ Eyes” photo exhibition will open
on the same day in the Moscow Music Theaters after Stanislavski and
Nemirovich-Danchenko. The Days of Yerevan will close on September 11,
with a gala concert in which Armenian and Russian pop singers as well
as dance groups will participate. To recap, the Days of Moscow were
held in Yerevan within the framework of the Day of Russia in Armenia,
in 2005.